Meizu's M8 gets more UI tweaks for its music player

Now, we know the official story on the CeBIT Meizu shutdown was related to MP3 codec licensing, and not the M8's iPhone-like UI. Still, it does seem strangely fortuitous that more pictures of the phone's interface have just appeared that seem to showcase a move away from Apple's familiar look. The Chinese site CNMO has new shots of the device's music player, which now appears to incorporate song info, EQ display, lyrics, and volume / tracking controls all on one screen. The pictures also show a couple of different music browsing options, both in landscape and portrait mode. Is this a signal that the company is putting some distance between the M8 and the iPhone? Only time will tell.

Update: Some commenters here and on the MeizuMe forums are claiming that these renderings are fake / fan art. So it might not be healthy to get too excited about the above screenshots.

[Via PMP Today]

[ryan @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:09PM]

doesn't apple have a copyright on coverflow?

[Sneakz @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:12PM]

Look closely. That's not Coverflow. The albums aren't angled.

[Aguiluz @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:32PM]

Small adjustments that make the difference, eh?

Meaning if I edit a song to remove a single note from a song and distribute it via limewire, it isn't infringing the holder's rights? Or maybe if I can remove a single frame from a movie and upload it, it isn't infringing? I made small adjustments and did not distribute their "complete" copyrighted content.


(sarcastic...)

[snitch @ Mar 22nd 2008 9:05PM]

I guess jobs was right when he said others where years behind, Meizu its a perfect example, no one wants to hear that but its true.

[Duscrom @ Mar 22nd 2008 9:21PM]

@Aguiluz:

Actually, yes, it works like that, though that's very simplified. There are many people who do music that is very similar to another song, but will change a few notes of a chord progression. While this is usually used in parody situations, it's the same idea.

Thing is, I don't think you can "Copyright" an UI. Like coverflow, which is pretty much a digital version of a jukebox like interface. But this interface is different enough to be different. mostly because there are only so many ways you can display something. If something like that was allowed to be copyrighted, then, there would be many monopolies. Because somebody could have copyrighted the UI of displaying Title, Artist, and time of a song in 3 lines of text, and at that point, the entire DMP industry would be dead.

[KEROLiUKAS @ Mar 22nd 2008 10:15PM]

Aguiluz

This is different, if you COPY a movie and modify, then's it's infringing, but if you're recreating the movie with the same story line it's ok. So this is just like making a new movie with the same story.

[drew @ Mar 22nd 2008 10:44PM]

Who would want this anyway when there is the "HiPhone" to be had... and I quote: "The HiPhone is 99.9% iPhone!" Revolutionary shake control! Shake it like a Maraca to change songs!

[Steffen Jobbs @ Mar 22nd 2008 10:51PM]

They don't call that CoverFlow. On a Meizu it's called CuvaFlo. Notice the difference in spelling. That makes it totally different. Anyway, who cares. Isn't this just a mockup of a non-existent product.

[Sneakz @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:11PM]

See, now this looks original. The first original thing they have done. It seems a little too congested though.

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:32PM]

This is unique to the Meizu. However, it's obvious that they won't be using a capacitance touch display with the M8; you'll need to use a stylus with those small items.

[Reginald @ Mar 22nd 2008 9:20PM]

The lyrics display for one are not a first for Meizu. The Meizu M6 MiniPlayer has had support for it for a couple of years. It's kinda pointless but at least it's unique.

Also, the M6 basically supports all of the features displayed here except the cover flow style album art. This new UI seems more like a re-hash of all their previous PMP player interface features. But again, at least it's expanding upon their own ideas and is somewhat unique.

[tylersmyler @ Mar 23rd 2008 2:19AM]

I like the congestion. I personally like the fact that I can see more information on one screen at the same time.
Yes, it's congested but it's also giving us a lot more information than an apple UI. It's very nice

[caramelzappa @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:14PM]

I don't care how many times they tweak the ui, they just need to release the phone already.

[Saad Rabia @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:39PM]

I have to agree with you on this one! They are talking about "2nd generation UI" like if they sold the first generation and are launching a new version! For the love of god, just get this thing out to the public already; if they wait longer than the next 2 months, they are probably doomed, by iPhone's low prices and its emerging huge software library.

Stop showing us photoshoped images of the UI!!!!

[zed @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:16PM]

Im pretty sure these are fake and made by the cnmo site to get hits to their site.

http://www.meizume.com/minione-m8/5802-cnmo-spreads-false-rumors-again.html

[BrianB @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:26PM]

PMPToday was somewhat tentative about calling it the NEW Meizu M8 interface but not tentative enough. Nice to have lyric support though. I dunno why Meizu doesn't put karaoke functionality on M8?

[Student Driver @ Mar 23rd 2008 1:21AM]

That's a shame, because I kind of dig it. I wouldn't mind the lyrics being hidden and the rest of it being expanded, but having the lyrics shown like that would be cool.

[TravvyTrav @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:18PM]

That's actually a pretty nice looking UI, if maybe it wasn't as cramped

[lindec @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:17PM]

seriously, why do you guys keep reporting on this thing? obviously it's an iphone ripoff. we get it. we don't need to see every update about its UI tweaks. the UI is way too cluttered in that picture anyway.

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Mar 22nd 2008 9:05PM]

CNMO is reporting it to get page hits. Engadget is reporting on it to get page hits. If we don't like it then we should not click on the Meizu links.

[snitch @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:17PM]

This thing is getting old already & should have been out already too, i hope when it comes out it doesn't take then this long to fix the bugs

[Homeboy @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:19PM]

By the time they are ready to ship this phone to the stores the iPhone 2.0 will be available for purchase online making the M8 a complete passé. Meizu now have they entire reputation on stake. If the M8 doesn't wind up offer the near flawless UI experience featured on the iPhone then this will be one of the biggest fiascos in history.

Kind of reminds me of the Neonde phone. When the concept and prototype was first presented I was stunned, there was simply no other phone like it. Simply a mile stone in tele communication but they kept delaying it so that when it hit the shelves 2-3 years after the first public appearance, it was yesterdays news.

[Corey H @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:19PM]

This isn't the real UI. Meizu CEO Jack Wong has stated many times that CNMO.com perpetuates lies. This is simply a piece of fan art, nothing more. The real new UI is much nicer and less crowded. The UI is also posted on the Meizu BBS forums.

I REPEAT THIS IS FAKE!!!!!! IT IS NOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY ANYONE!!!!!!!

Corey H

[aaron @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:22PM]

Vaporware, as far as I am concerned...

[snitch @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:29PM]

well the pictures sure look nice, but i guess getting it to work is a different story. for over a year all they have shown is a broken alpha stage model & pretty pics, lots of them

[bob @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:26PM]

THIS THING WILL BE OUTDATED BY THE TIME ITS RELEASED, IT HAS A YEAR AT LEAST TO GO AND DOESNT HAVE ITS OWN REAL OS, JUST A SKIN, STOP REPORTING ON IT. YOU A FALLING FOR EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO!

[Raheem @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:24PM]

Come on, we all know it's been a slow day - let's just appreciate the fact there was something at all for us to scrutinize! I could almost feel my sarcasm fading away in between stories :P

[Luis Fernández @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:33PM]

Ugly if you ask me...

[zed @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:41PM]

no one is

[The Dude @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:42PM]

For those saying it's cramped, hit up the read link and look at the other images. Notably: http://img.cnmo.com/72/71775.jpg

Fake or not, not all of the mock-up variations are (as) cramped.

[Patricio Mayr @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:44PM]

Totally Fake , they got shut down for not having mp3 patents , but the UI shows clearly that an mp3 is playing , i dont think they would keep risking .

[Chicksta @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:51PM]

I can't see how they'd be able to display lyrics this easily when every other device has to have workarounds* to add the lyrics due to copyright restrictions (since the lyrics are under different licenses than the music, thus why songwriters get royalties that differ from the artist's). Or am I missing something?
*and by workarounds, I just mean having to add them in manually by cutting and pasting them from whatever lyric db. Does anything have a simpler method?

[engadgetier @ Mar 22nd 2008 9:09PM]

Now only if they could get it working...... :S

[Kei @ Mar 22nd 2008 11:11PM]

your 'signal' that they're moving away from it is when the booth said with their 'lips'. "This interface (referring to their old iPhone looking one) is temporary until it's developed". :S

[sevendegrees @ Mar 22nd 2008 11:42PM]

if tis fake ,they should get to work and make it real... that looks hot

[Benjamin @ Mar 23rd 2008 12:26AM]

why cant they just put android in it? that would make is so much more dam popular....

[Tangent @ Mar 23rd 2008 1:20AM]

Who has finger small enough to adjust volume or the play head. The interface only looks nice but is unusable for a touch interface.

[vdogg89 @ Mar 23rd 2008 1:09AM]

i think its great, but they really should be focusing on releasing this thing before creating new UI's

[sdh @ Mar 23rd 2008 1:04PM]

Well, maybe the are "building hype" and optimizing the UI before release. I think it's good they put alot of work in to it before it hits the shelves. Anyways they get alot of advertisement on the net, right? I'm an apple "fanboy" if you like but I can't help digging this, they've done better UI than any other rival to the touch/iphone IMHO.

[crow610 @ Mar 23rd 2008 1:38AM]

Two things will happen before the M8 actually comes to market

a) Tibet secede from China
b) Taiwan will join China and be called Taiwan SAR

[AutoTom @ Mar 23rd 2008 1:46AM]

overkill.. i care about his product, but not about details so specific.

[DYE_Slayer @ Mar 23rd 2008 1:59AM]

This is fan art. I wouldn't trust CNMO as a reliable source. Alot of what they said is fake. There is no such thing as a "2nd generation UI", and if you notice it strays way off the CeBiT 2008 design.

CNMO probably gets its photos from Baidu Images.

[substance90 @ Mar 23rd 2008 4:26AM]

Even if it`s fake, they have to make it somewhat similar to this + add bitrate info, FLAC/APE support and IF they do that, then this is my next phone/music/video player.

[spw @ Mar 23rd 2008 9:48AM]

how can iPhone outdate anything? It still has no MMS support :-).
My iPhone is fine, but its phone features are pathetic. Too bad Apple didnt concentrate on that, rather than on pretty UI.

But I am happy, we got mass-sms in 1.1.3! Only hundred features left to go to make it comparable to $1 phone.

I doubt Apple will have too many issues with look-alikes, as they will probably drop prices as soon as 2G comes.

[Tim @ Mar 23rd 2008 8:39AM]

It looks better than the ipod touch


that was hard to say

[Can @ Mar 23rd 2008 9:11AM]

this interface is actually BETTER than iPod Toch/iPhone interface.
It looks much better IMO and has more info displayed.

[Bryan @ Mar 23rd 2008 10:18AM]

no u hang up

[mark m @ Mar 23rd 2008 11:51AM]

I want to hate it (for obvious reasons) but I can't help but see a glimmer of potential.

[aptmunich @ Mar 26th 2008 2:57AM]

So it's a crappy mockup for a crappy vapourware product that's just another ripoff of an Apple design?

And this is news because...?

I'm all for giving other manufacturers more coverage, but there seem to be a lot more worthy contenders than Meizu.
Their ripoff is not even out yet... at least cover the ripoffs that are on the market guys!

[sdh @ Mar 23rd 2008 12:58PM]

That is seriously hot! Like the UI alot! Keeps getting better.